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Sean O'Brien is the type of tenant who works hard to make his home feel like his own. When he found his latest apartment in Verdun, there were plenty of fixer-upper opportunities, so he grabbed the bull by the horns to make his small kitchen match his cooking needs. Also a professional musician, his home needed to have a room where he could bask in the oasis his collection of instruments provided, and still have another place for downtime. That's a tall order, but he has made his home adapt to his needs and the result is small but beautiful.

Tell us about your music room?

My music room is my sanctuary, and it's right next to my bedroom, which is just separated by a curtain, so I don't have to go far to practice. I place my instruments on specially designed holders to make them more accessible. They only go in their case when I transport them.

(O'Brien also composes and arranges music for ensembles and orchestras - something made easy by having his instruments close at hand and a piano nearby to test out his new tunes. The plants and large window help him stay motivated; a welcome change from his first apartment arrangement when his music room was in what is now the guest/entertainment room, which was windowless.

He also teaches in his studio, and regularly has students in his apartment for piano or violin lessons. His electric piano has the advantage of volume reduction, so that he can accept students day or night without disturbing the neighbours.)

This sitting room used to be your music room. What happens in here now that you've moved things around?

My music room used to be here, but the space is really confined, and I found, much better suited as a waiting room for parents when their kids come over for a music lesson.

(The lack of windows was really un-motivating, even though there are nice glass French doors.)

It's a great place for guests, too, who can stay over on the pull-out sofa, and the gaming consoles are there if the mood strikes.

(O'Brien's brother particularly enjoys this room. Being a fan of video games, he visits often.)

He can play to his heart's content. He's not bored, and I'm not distracted.

(The tall shelving unit in the corner of the room holds travelling mementos from Germany and South America, where O'Brien studied and taught music. There is also a large box he made to hold crafting materials.)

I make my own oboe reeds, and coming in this room to make them really helps me focus. I keep them in this wooden box, and then I zip back to my studio across the hall.

Your kitchen has quite a few innovative space-saving pieces. What can you say about them?

I love to cook, but this kitchen really had no space when I moved in. There were no cabinets, no space for the table I had in my previous apartment - I really had to be creative to make this space work for me.

(O'Brien installed extra shelving above and to the right of his kitchen sink. He also installed extra lighting, hanging baskets that he used to hang wine glasses, and a taller unit above the sink to store bottles and dry dishes. He made his kitchen table from an old butcher counter.)

I washed and treated it with turpentine and linseed oil, cut it so it would fit the dimensions of my kitchen with tools my landlord loaned me, and bought legs to make a bar-like table that would fit high chairs.

(He now hosts dinner parties and has places for guests to put down their plates and drinks.)

The dishwasher also fit perfectly at the end of my counter. I fitted a cutting block, and it provides much needed extra counter space, This also helped resolve the space issue in the kitchen.

SHELTER

Shelter is a weekly series featuring a conversation with tenants or condo owners.

Tenant: Sean O'Brien, age 32

Location: Verdun, on Evelyn St., near Verdun St.

Size: 4½-room apartment

Monthly Rent: $720

Been there: 2 years

SHELTER

SHOW AND TELL

See more of this apartment and some of its other interesting spaces by viewing our interactive online feature Shelter Show and Tell at montrealgazette.com/shelter

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Musician finds harmony in Verdun apartment

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